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Road Trip Tips for Traveling with Kids

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It’s the time of year for getting out on the road with the kids and enjoying the sunshine. Not only does this mean there’s a lot of planning to do, but you’ll also have to find ways to keep the kids entertained while on the move.
Today we are sharing our Top 5 Road Trip Tips for Traveling with Kids.

1. Prep Your Car & Pack Accordingly

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This is the first (and most important) task! We compiled a checklist for you to make sure you don’t forget anything! Having your car serviced, getting everything cleaned and organized, tips for packing…. don’t skip this step. DETAILS HERE.

2. Bring Snacks

This is obviously so important- hungry travelers are not fun company to be around, so stock up on your favorite foods! Bring the kids to the store so they can pick their favorite granola bars, fruit snacks, candies, trail mix etc.

Lessen the amount of times you hear “Are we there yet” with some of these fun ideas:

Tiny Timeline: Use a felt road with sights your see and some velcro on the bottom of a matchbox car to track your progress. (from Once a Month Mom)

Roadtrip Printables: Print these free printables from your home with cities you will drive through on your trip and take them off the timeline as you pass through.

Prize Bags: Give your kids a special treat or prize at various landmarks and locations. (from Get Away Today)

Map It Out: Laminate your map and use a dry erase marker to show your route, and mark where you are so they can see how much longer you have. (Via Creekside Learning)

5. Document Memories

When we took our kids to New York a couple years ago, I let my 10, 7, and 5 year old use their own cameras. (We had a couple old ones laying around, but you can also use disposable or consider this a fun investment!) We now do this for every trip we’ve taken because it was SO FUN! The kids had a blast taking pictures of things that didn’t even catch my eye. It was so sweet looking at the trip from the eyes of a child. When you get home, make each of them their own album with their own pictures. PRICELESS!

Child’s Travel Log: Let the kids draw pictures of the landmarks you’ve seen and display them on a clothes line. (from Housing a Forest)

Keep in mind, this is a family road trip, right? So get your kids to help in the planning and preparations as much as you can! Not only will it be more fun for them, it will also teach them how to plan their own with their future families!

This post originally published on Somewhat Simple in July 2013 but was updated in March 2015.

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STEPHANIE DULGARIAN || FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Stephanie is a creative entrepreneur and founder of Somewhat Simple. After moving to Phoenix in 2005, she started her blog on a whim to keep in touch with her family in Orange County, California. She now manages a creative team of over a dozen women who share daily content consisting of DIY projects and crafts, family-friendly recipes, travel + lifestyle tips for moms and more! Stephanie’s creative expertise has expanded into ongoing partnerships with major brands like Huggies, Better Homes & Gardens, Disney and Lowes. Somewhat Simple has become a favorite source of creative inspiration for thousands of daily readers. Stephanie still lives in Arizona with her husband and five children. Learn More About Stephanie